198
THE YPRES TIMES
out signalling to us to stop. He was very excited. Half an hour ago,
he said breathlessly, a great force of German cavalry had ridden through the
place. They were just ahead down the road. There must have been a thousand,
he said, but as he believed he had only seen two officers, and as the horseman had
apparently not taken more than ten minutes to ride through the place, it seemed
likely that they consisted of only a squadron, weakened in all probability by having
sent out numerous patrols.
But though the Germans might be few their presence was awkward. Turning
back was out of the question. A larger force might by now have got beyond the
cross-roads some miles back, where the car had taken this particular road; and
who could tell what forces were moving on the other roads? Better take a chance
with the Germans ahead.
So we decided to drive on. The escort was put on the roof of the car, and the
chauffeur ordered to drive on slowly and carefully, making no noise until he was
right up against the tail of the German squadron. He was then to blow his siren
like mad (he had a powerful one) but to be careful not to drive fast or into the
horses. A fallen horse might immobilize the car or overturn it.
The windows were lowered and the car started. Our excitement was intense.
The road was steep and winding. On the off side the ground fell away steeply,
and on the other it rose sharply. Presently, just ahead, we sighted two Uhlans
rounding the next bend. They were sitting their horses carelessly, and dis
appeared round the corner without having looked round.
The chauffeur began to drive a little faster. The two Germans were half-way
to the next bend when we sighted them again. The car got quite close to them,
but they never turned. When right up to them, the chauffeur, with great presence
of mind, gave a discreet honkon his horn. The horses shied mildly, the
startled men gathering up their reins. As they turned their heads the car shot
past. It is doubtful if they had time to take in the foreign uniform of the chauffeur
or to note the man on top, who luckily did not shoot. A minute later we were 011
the tail of the squadron, which after all may only have been a troop. The car's
siren blew furiously; horses climbed the bank or carried their riders down the
ravinethere was the wildest confusion. Ahead there seemed to be a solid block
of prancing horses across the road. In a second the car was amongst them. The
mudguards touched horses to either side and they plunged about, kicking and out
of control. Several Germans, or so it seemed, tried to lunge at the car with their
lances, but could do no harm because their mounts were unmanageable. Others
tried to unsling their rifles. The men ahead cannot have had any idea of what
was happening. They probably thought ours was a runaway car, or maybe an
armoured one against which they could do nothing, for most of those in the
fore part of the column scattered. I remember a very fat Sergeant-Major, his
headdress over his nose, who appeared for a moment, his crimson face against the
neck of his rearing horse. He was apparently trying, though I think unsuccess
fully, to shoot with his revolver. I also caught a glimpse of a smart officer, his
face white with rage, as the car flashed past. I had a shot at him, but my revolver
clicked harmlessly. I had long since fired away all my rounds, probably without
causing any damage to anyone.
The car now sped on, swaying dangerously round corners. The few horsemen
who formed the German point were off the road.
Presently the chauffeur pulled up so that the man on top could climb down.
The car stopped, but there was no sign of him. He could not be abandoned
without an attempt being made to retrieve him, so very gingerly the car was
backed up the hill. Luckily the man soon came into sight running down the road,
very dusty and out of breath. He had been whisked off at a corner, whilst trying
